HyundaiELANTRA MD2016Overview/hyundai/elantra-md/2016/base/

2016 Hyundai ELANTRA MD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2016 Hyundai Elantra enters the compact passenger-car segment with 288 owner-reported complaints logged against it, the engine emerging as the leading concern and two recalls issued to date. In the broader context of a model line tracked from 1992 through 2026, that figure sits well below the 1,325 complaints that peaked with the 2013 generation yet remains far above the 21 recorded for the 2025 model, suggesting the 2016 version occupies a mid-range reliability tier — improved from its most troubled predecessor but still carrying enough reported issues to warrant close inspection of engine-related service records before purchase.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter 2630035505. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnBRAKEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195/65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.0-J; OPTIONAL: 6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter2630035505
Battery371104C702 alt 371103X565

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length179.1 in
Overall width70.1 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight2877 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.50 sec — 2016 Value Edition Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016Value Edition Sedan 1.8L I-49.50 sec17.10 sec145 hpFWD
2017Sport Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.10 sec201 hpFWD
2017Sport Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.60 sec201 hpFWD
2017Sport Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-47.10 sec15.40 sec201 hpFWD
2017Eco Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.20 sec128 hpFWD
2017Eco Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.20 sec128 hpFWD
2017Limited Sedan 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.40 sec147 hpFWD
2017Limited Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.60 sec147 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.7
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantEthylene-Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity6.2 qt
Engine CoolantEthylene-Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity6.3 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs10.0-11.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.3-32.5 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.64-0.86 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5015-6785 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque11-18 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.031 - .035 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.00-1.17 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.52-4.22 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.9-52.6 psi
Engine Compression164 - 185 psi / Max Variation 15 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.0067-0.0009 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0105-0.0130 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23 / 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 47-; Front: 58-; Rear: 47-
ABS Sensor Torque6.0-7.0 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .842; Rear: .331
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0002
Maximum Rotor Runout.001

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–15 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 88.0-92.013–16 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 122.520–23 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 122.511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Hyundai Elantra sits within a volatile period of the model's history, following a significant peak of 1,325 complaints in 2013. With 288 complaints, 2 recalls, and 1 investigation, the 2016 model represents a relative stabilization compared to the 2013-2014 window, though it immediately precedes a spike to 759 complaints in 2017. The most frequent complaints for 2016 center on the engine (72), but the data does not specify the root cause. This year also recorded 22 crash complaints, 5 fire complaints, and 130 technical service bulletins. Because it falls in a relative lull between two high-complaint years, this is a good year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
130
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
288
Owner complaints
22 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 288 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine72
Unknown Or Other35
Air Bags17
Power Train14
Latches/Locks/Linkages10
Structure9
Steering9
Wheels9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

24V146000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:LatchReported 23/02/2024

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the… Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at…

26V307000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 15/05/2026

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Elantra and 2016 Elantra GT vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment. Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 3, 2026…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 130 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-BD-002H TSB2026-04-28Unknown Or OtherCertain Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on…
26-BD-002H DN2026-04-28Unknown Or OtherSome Hyundai vehicles with exterior white paint may exhibit peeling or bubbling on metal…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
26-01-033H TSB2026-03-26EngineThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.